BERLIN- Former Stephen Decatur golf standout Kyle Gebhart has earned a spot in the prestigious U.S. Amateur Championship in Georgia next week.
Gebhart, who had an outstanding career at Decatur and who now works at the Ocean City Golf Club in South Point, earned a spot in the U.S. Amateur Championship after four strong rounds at a qualifying event at the Country Club of Woodmore in Mitchellville last week. Gebhart shot a 69 and a 71 for a 140 in his final two rounds at the qualifying event to make the cut for the U.S. Amateur Championship, which will be played at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Ga. on August 11-17.
Gebhart is one of just 312 amateur players from all over the country to qualify for the championship tournament. The golfers will play two rounds of stroke play on the first two days of the tournament and the field will be narrowed from 312 to just 64. The finalists will then meet in a 36-hole showdown to determine the winner.
Gebhart has been tuning up for the amateur championship with strong finishes in several regional events including the qualifying event at Woodmore last week. Last month, he finished second at the Delaware Amateur Championship. Just this week, Gebhart finished tied for fifth in the Delaware Open Championship that included both professionals and amateurs. In 36 holes on Monday, he shot a 69 and a 74. On Tuesday, he shot a remarkable 66 during a round that included two bogies.